BARRIERS TO THE USE OF MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN ANDHISPANIC ELDERLY PERSONS

This study discusses barriers to the utilization of community-based me ntal hearth services by African-American and Hispanic elderly persons. The study sample consists of ''key Infermants,'' chosen because they were knowledgeable about the mental health needs and use of mental hea lth services by African-American or Hispanic elderly persons. Principa l component analysis using orthogonal rotation was conducted on the 23 item barrier scale and identified three levels of service barriers fo r the entire sample and for each subsample of African-American and His panic informants. Based upon the study findings, a number of strategie s are offered to improve utilization and overcome service delivery bar riers.